Top startup equity planning financial advisors in San Rafael, CA

The right financial advisor for you depends on how you weigh location, expertise, experience, the clients they typically serve, and how they work with you.

If you recently received startup equity or are about to, you need an advisor who understands how to navigate its unique tax and liquidity challenges. Without specialized knowledge, you might miss key opportunities to optimize your equity's value or face unexpected tax bills.

  • Equity type expertise. Confirm they know the difference between stock options, restricted stock units, and other equity forms, as each has distinct tax and exercise implications.
  • Tax timing strategies. Ask how they help plan around income spikes and potential AMT (alternative minimum tax) triggers common with startup equity.
  • Liquidity event planning. Ensure they can guide you through decisions about when to sell or hold shares, balancing growth potential with cash needs.
  • Integration with overall finances. Look for advisors who consider your startup equity alongside your broader financial picture, including property tax impacts under California's Proposition 13.

Here are top matches to get you started. Review each profile to compare experience, credentials, and approach.

Want help finding the right advisor?

Answer a few questions to see advisors matched to you.

user avatar

Tucker B

Series 63, Series 65

San Rafael, CA

OSAIC

Tucker Barash is a financial advisor with Osaic Wealth, Inc. in San Rafael, CA, holding Series 63 and Series 65 licenses and with 19 years of industry experience. He previously worked for Woodbury Financial Services, Inc. for 14 years before joining Osaic in 2024. Barash also owns an insurance sales business. Osaic Wealth serves a diverse client base including retail and institutional investors, offering brokerage, advisory, financial planning, and retirement consulting services through a large network of affiliated advisors. The firm utilizes firm-provided asset allocation tools and third-party platforms to construct and manage diversified portfolios on both discretionary and non-discretionary bases.

Annuities Wealth management Tax-loss harvesting Private / alternative investments Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Executive
user avatar

Heidi M

Series 63

San Rafael, CA

Shira Ridge Wealth Management

Heidi Morshead is a financial advisor at Shira Ridge Wealth Management in San Rafael, CA, with 18 years of industry experience. She holds a Series 63 designation and has been with Shira Ridge since 2012. Outside of her advisory role, she is involved in a consulting business related to real estate. Shira Ridge Wealth Management serves individual and high-net-worth clients, as well as small business owners, managing approximately $323 million in discretionary assets. The firm focuses on portfolio management, comprehensive financial planning, and coordinating separate managed accounts, emphasizing diversification, tax-aware strategies, and regular portfolio reviews.

Equity compensation tax strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy General estate planning guidance College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.) General tax planning Founder/Business Owner Retired
user avatar

Brock S

Series 63, Series 66

San Rafael, CA

LPL Financial

Brock Scigliano is a financial advisor at LPL Financial with 12 years of industry experience. He holds the Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has previously worked at firms including Fidelity Investments, Prudential, and TD Ameritrade. His current role includes providing investment products and services through Redwood Wealth Management. LPL Financial is an SEC-registered investment adviser and broker-dealer serving individuals, retirement plans, banks, credit unions, corporations, and charitable organizations. The firm offers a range of advisory programs, financial planning, retirement plan consulting, and brokerage services, supported by model portfolios, research, and a variety of management approaches.

College savings (529s, UTMA, etc.)
user avatar

Christopher C

Series 63, Series 66

San Rafael, CA

Ridgecrest Wealth Partners, LLC

Christopher Coble is a financial advisor at Ridgecrest Wealth Partners, LLC with 11 years of industry experience. He holds Series 63 and Series 66 licenses and has worked at firms including Morgan Stanley Private Bank and Passport Capital. Outside his advisory role, he is the sole proprietor of Bike Race, a business activity unrelated to his financial work. Ridgecrest Wealth Partners is an SEC-registered advisory firm managing approximately $705 million across 744 accounts. The firm serves individuals, high-net-worth clients, trusts, estates, and retirement plan participants using a combination of fundamental, technical, and charting analysis with both active and passive investment strategies tailored to client risk profiles.

Active portfolio management Options & derivatives strategies Private / alternative investments
user avatar

Nicholas S

CFP®, Series 66

San Rafael, CA

Westhill Financial Advisors, Inc.

Nicholas Safrit is a CFP® with 21 years of industry experience, currently serving at Westhill Financial Advisors, Inc. since 2020. Prior to joining Westhill, he worked at Fidelity Personal and Workplace Advisors and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC. WestHill Financial Advisors offers personalized financial planning, investment management, and pension consulting to individuals, trusts, estates, businesses, non-profits, and retirement plans. The firm employs a strategic asset allocation process using a core-and-satellite approach and provides tailored portfolios based on clients’ risk tolerance, time horizon, tax considerations, and liquidity needs.

Business exit / sale strategy Retirement plans for business owners (SEP, solo 401k) Founder/Business Owner Retired Executive

Kimberly H

CFP®, CRPC®

Troy, MI

Innermost Wealth Management, LLC

I founded Innermost™ Wealth Management to create a more personal, thoughtful approach to financial planning and wealth management. My background in both finance and psychology shaped my belief that money is not just about numbers. It is deeply personal and connected to your values, goals, and life experiences. I work with professionals who want to grow and simplify their wealth, with a special focus on women navigating career growth, equity compensation, and major life transitions such as divorce. Many of my clients are balancing busy lives and complex financial decisions, and they value having a long-term financial partner who truly understands their needs. My firm is centered on ongoing wealth management through investment advisory relationships. Clients work with me for comprehensive financial planning and investment management that evolves with them over time. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® Professional, Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor℠, and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® Candidate, I provide technical expertise and strategic guidance, while also recognizing the emotional side of financial decisions. My approach is compassionate, judgment-free, and designed to reduce stress while helping you feel more confident in your choices. I operate a fully virtual firm, working with clients across the country who appreciate flexibility and convenience. My goal is to simplify your financial life, provide clear advice, and help you align your wealth with what matters most to you. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling, photography, cooking, and spending quality time with my Beagle, Gracie.

General retirement planning General tax planning Wealth management Startup equity planning Divorce financial planning Women Professionals Life coaching / goal alignment Established Professionals Approaching retirement Dual Income Family

George S

Series 66

Hartford, CT

Merrill

George Silvester is a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, serving as a member of the Boston Executive Services Team since 2017. He works primarily with founders, executives, and key associates at both privately held and publicly traded companies, focusing on the intricacies of equity ownership and equity compensation. George's approach begins with understanding what is most important to his clients and assessing their current position relative to their goals, ultimately developing customized financial strategies that align with their evolving life needs, resources, and aspirations. George began his career at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management as a Summer Analyst in 2016, where he developed an understanding of the client-advisor relationship and the collaborative pursuit of clients’ life goals. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management with a concentration in Finance from Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business. Additionally, George has earned the Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor™ (CRPC™) designation awarded by the College for Financial Planning, as well as the Personal Investment Advisor (PIA) designation. Outside of his professional work, George’s personal interests include biking, bowling, chess, cooking, golfing, hiking, and reading.

Exec comp design Startup equity planning Liquidity event planning Wealth management ESG / Sustainable investing Founder/Business Owner Executive

James V

Series 66

Stuart, FL

Fidelity

James Van Nice is a Benefits & Planning Consultant specializing in Executive Services. In this role, he partners with executives to help them understand their employer benefits and develop plans to work towards their financial goals. James has professional experience as an Investment Solutions Representative III at Fidelity Investments from 2023 to 2025 and as an Investment Solutions Representative II at Fidelity Investments from 2022 to 2023. Prior to that, he worked at Merrill Lynch as an Investment Solutions Representative I from 2021 to 2022 and as a Financial Advisor from 2018 to 2019. Outside of his professional work, James engages in fishing, fitness, golf, running, and volunteering.

Exec comp design Liquidity event planning Startup equity planning Executive

Adam N

CFP®, Series 66

Mankato, MN

Edward Jones

Adam Neubauer is a CFP® with 11 years of industry experience. He has been with Edward Jones since 2014 and is based in Mankato, MN. Edward Jones is a full-service wealth management firm serving more than four million individual and institutional clients. The firm manages approximately $1.01 trillion in assets and offers a wide range of investment strategies and affiliated services through a large nationwide network of financial advisors and branch offices.

Retirement income strategy Business exit / sale strategy Charitable giving & philanthropy Startup equity planning General retirement planning Retired Founder/Business Owner Executive
user avatar

Juan P

Series 66

San Francisco, CA

Optimo Capital

Juan Polanco is a Series 66 licensed financial advisor with Optimo Capital in San Francisco, CA, and has 11 years of industry experience. Before founding Optimo Capital, he worked at Carr & Ferrell LLP for two years. Outside of his advisory role, Mr. Polanco works full-time as an engineer at PacBio and mentors startups and founders at the Founder's Institute and LoyalVC. Optimo Capital advises founders of venture-backed companies, recently funded startups, and private investors on portfolio supervision and capital-raising. The firm uses a combined top‑down and bottom‑up analytical approach with a supervisory and consultative model, focusing on tailored services such as Investment Policy Statements, due diligence management, and pitch material preparation.

Business ownership considerations Wealth management Founder/Business Owner

Find advisors by type

Warmer team member

Not sure where to start?

We'll help you think it through—whether you ultimately need an advisor or not. Warmer helps you compare advisors clearly, so you can choose with confidence.

Find your advisor

For advisor listings, we rely on sources including public filings and data provided by advisors, and we cannot guarantee that all information is current or accurate. Advisors are independent and may not have reviewed or updated this information. Please review an advisor's Form ADV and do your own diligence before deciding whether to work with them.

Advisor matching and referrals are provided by FinanceHQ LLC ("FHQ"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warmer and an SEC-registered investment adviser. We may be compensated by participating advisors. You pay no fee to use our matching service, and advisor fees are not increased because of a referral. We do not supervise advisors, manage or hold assets, guarantee performance, or provide advice about specific investments.

By using our service, you agree to the Warmer Terms of Service and FHQ Advisory Agreement, and acknowledge Warmer's Privacy Policy. Please review FHQ's ADV Part 2A and Form CRS. Logos provided by Logo.dev

© 2026 Warmer Holdings Inc. ("Warmer")